Cessna 150H | N23330

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this midair collision accident to be helicopter Pilot Error, in that the instructor rated pilot of the State of Pennsylvania Police helicopter did possess significant helicopter specific knowledge, training, and experience to know the full extent of the invisible dangers of his own lingering rotor wash, did elect to fly an 11 mile straight in approach to runway 28, did elect to intentionally remain directly over the runway surface for an extended and un necessary amount of time, and did violate his obligation to avoid the flow of fixed wing traffic.
The Cessna 150 aircraft was on approach to land on Runway 28 and had already altered its traffic pattern to switch to runway 28, after previously setting up to land on runway 10. The Helicopter instructor had previously issued an instruction to the Cessna pilot attempting to control his flight path.
Upon reaching the runway thresh hold, the Cessna aircraft was configured for normal landing and did delay his touchdown in anticipation of the helicopter vacating the runway surface ahead, which did not occur until after the Cessna pilot elected to go around. The very late Cessna go around commenced in helicopter disturbed air and resulted in an aerodynamic stall of the Cessna right wing, thereby causing it to turn to the right, and impacted the helicopter.
The Police helicopter was determined to have been in hover flight directly over the paved runway surface for all times except the last 8 seconds of time prior to the midair collision. The DTSB has determined the choices made by the State Police Instructor pilot to be an excessive, un-necessary, and unpredictable act, failing to meet the standard of reasonable care to prevent foreseeable harm to an unknowing civilian fixed wing pilot. In the state of Pennsylvania, a legal duty of care exists and is defined as “an obligation requiring a person or organization to act with reasonable care to prevent foreseeable harm to others.” The DTSB determines that the helicopter pilot did violate FAR 91.13(a) which requires that no person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft become more familiar with the profound effects of helicopter rotor wash, and take appropriate steps to keep helicopters and fixed wing aircraft separate. The DTSB also recommends that all operators of rotary wing aircraft review the Federal Aviation Regulations and take efforts to avoid the creation of similar dangerous situations.